Journalism and Promotional Communication (B.A.)
At-a-Glance
Minimum hours required for major: 44
Admission: Students must complete COM 225 (Media Writing) with a minimum grade of B-.
Special tracks: Three areas of concentration are available within the Journalism and Promotional Communication major: Journalism, Public Relations, and Advertising.
Career information: A major in Journalism and Promotional Communication will prepare students for jobs in the news media, public relations, and advertising. Students with expertise in journalism can be hired as reporters, editors, or technical writers for newspapers, magazines, and online media. An education in public relations can open doors to jobs in PR firms and companies that use promotional strategies to craft a public image. Graduates with expertise in advertising can find employment in ad agencies, working in research or creative advertising development departments. Students who have an interest in effects of media and promotional communication may want to pursue graduate work to prepare for a career as a researcher or professor of mass communication.
Evening Program: No
Advising: Contact the School of Communication office (216) 687-4630 or Professor Edward Horowitz at (216) 687-3996.
Financial Aid: Scholarship assistance awarded to students in the School of Communication. Scholarships awarded annually. Call main office at (216) 687-4630 for information.
- Max Axelrod Scholarship. Students with journalism emphasis.
- Raymond Dorsey Journalism Scholarship. Physically disabled student with a preference for journalism emphasis.
- Jana V. Stone Scholarship. Public relations emphasis.
- W.O. and Naomi Walker Scholarship. Students in the School of Communication.
- Donald Marcus Scholarship. Students with advertising emphasis.
Student organizations: Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), Cleveland State Advertising Association (CSAA), Student Association for Promotional Communication (SAPC)
The Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Promotional Communication offers students a unique combination of academic excellence and career-related training. Students will receive a comprehensive, ethically grounded education in journalism and mass communication. Students in this program learn about both the impact and responsibilities of mass media in a contemporary capitalist democracy, obtaining training in the gathering, production, and strategic dissemination of information. Media reporting and writing, as well as the design of public relations and advertising campaigns, comprise the course work of this intensive program. The curriculum represents a balance among professional skills, academic approaches to mass communication, and a liberal-arts background. Our faculty is among the finest in the nation, recently ranked eighth in the country in communication research productivity.
Major-Field Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 44 credits and maintain a 2.25 GPA to graduate with a major in Journalism and Promotional Communication. The major consists of four core courses, five required sequence courses and two elective sequence courses. Students should be aware that professionally oriented courses require considerable commitment of time and effort in addition to traditional class meeting times. Transfer students must obtain at least 20 credit hours from Communication courses at Cleveland State University.
Required Major Core Courses: (16 credit hours):
- COM 101 Principles of Communication
- COM 303 Communication Inquiry
- COM 225 Media Writing
- COM 226 Mass Media and Society
Journalism Sequence
Students concentrating in this area are required to take 28 credits of the following courses in the Journalism sequence.
Required Journalism Sequence Courses: (20 credit hours)
- COM 326 Advanced Reporting
- COM 328 Specialized Writing
- COM 425 Editing and Graphics
- COM 426 Laboratory Newspaper I
- COM 427 Laboratory Newspaper II
Journalism Elective Courses: (8 credit hours); choose two of the following:
- COM 231 Evolution of Mass Media
- COM 347 Political Communication
- COM 358 Media Law, Economics and Ethics
- COM 359 International Communication
- COM 370 Communication Technology & Social Change
- COM 393 Special Topics (Photo Journalism)
- COM 405 Electronic Journalism
- COM 490 Internship in Communication
Public Relations Sequence
Students concentrating in this area are required to take 28 credits of the following courses in the Public Relations sequence.
Required Public Relations Sequence Courses: (20 credit hours)
- COM 350 Persuasive Communication and Attitude Change
- COM 357 Principles of Public Relations
- COM 425 Editing and Graphics
- COM 447 Public Relations Writing
- COM 455 Communication Campaigns
Public Relations Sequence Elective Courses: (8 credit hours); choose two of the following:
- COM 231 Evolution of Mass Media
- COM 242 Public and Professional Speaking
- COM 347 Political Communication
- COM 358 Media Law, Economics and Ethics
- COM 359 International Communication
- COM 360 Principles of Advertising
- COM 393 Special Topics (Photo Journalism)
- COM 490 Internship in Communication
Advertising Sequence
Students concentrating in this area are required to take 28 credits of the following courses in the Advertising sequence.
Required Advertising Sequence Courses: (20 credit hours)
- COM 357 Principles of Public Relations
- COM 360 Principles of Advertising
- COM 361 Advertising Copywriting & Layout
- COM 363 Advertising Media Planning and Sales
- COM 455 Communication Campaigns
Advertising Elective Courses: (8 credit hours); choose two of the following:
- COM 231 Evolution of Mass Media
- COM 242 Public and Professional Speaking
- COM 350 Persuasive Communication and Attitude Change
- COM 358 Media Law, Economics and Ethics
- COM 359 International Communication
- COM 364 Interactive Advertising Designs
- COM 393 Special Topics (Photo Journalism)
- COM 490 Internship in Communication